November maintenance for a very cold climate

November7 tasks

1. This month
   Press the test button on every smoke and CO alarm.

   An alarm you have not heard in months may have a dead battery or sensor. NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month.

   How

   Hold the test button until it sounds. Anything silent or chirping: replace the battery, or the whole alarm if it is past its date.

   MonthlyEvery homeNFPA: Smoke alarms
2. This month
   Check the date on the back of every smoke and CO alarm.

   Smoke alarms wear out: NFPA advises replacing them 10 years after the manufacture date. CO alarms have their own end-of-life date printed on them.

   How

   Twist each alarm off its base and read the date. Replace any past its life; swap batteries in alarms that take them.

   YearlyEvery homeNFPA: Smoke alarms
3. This month
   Look under every sink and around toilets and the water heater for drips.

   Slow leaks rot cabinets and subfloors long before they show. Catching one early is a washer, not a floor.

   How

   Use a flashlight: feel supply lines and the shutoff valves, look for stains, warped cabinet floors or a toilet that rocks.

   Every 3 monthsEvery home
4. This month
   Clean gutters and downspouts after the leaves are down.

   Blocked gutters overflow at the foundation, rot fascia and, in cold climates, help ice dams form.

   How

   From a stable ladder (with a helper), scoop debris, then flush each downspout with a hose. Extensions should drop water 4 to 6 feet from the house.

   Twice a yearVery cold climate region
5. This month
   Get winter gear ready: roof rake, shovel, ice melt and a backup heat plan.

   The first storm empties hardware-store shelves.

   How

   Choose ice melt rated for your walkway material, and plan a safe backup heat source in case of a long outage.

   YearlyVery cold climate regionReady.gov: Winter weather
6. Watch
   Look in the attic with a flashlight after the first big storm of the season.

   Stains on the roof deck, wet insulation or daylight around vents show leaks early, and droppings show pests.

   How

   Stay on the joists. Look around chimneys, vent pipes and valleys, the places most leaks start.

   YearlyEvery home
7. Watch
   Stock a power-outage kit: flashlights, batteries, water, a battery radio.

   Winter storms bring multi-day outages.

   How

   Keep it in one bin. Add a phone power bank and a list of medicines that need power or refrigeration.

   YearlyVery cold climate regionReady.gov: Winter weather